Lesson Plans for Teaching About Terrorism and Peace

Oct 01, 2001

A World At Peace Designed for younger students (grades 2-6), this lesson plan invites students to brainstorm the basic rights of people everywhere, explore the United Nation's Declaration of Human Rights, and then use international photography galleries as part of a multimedia creative writing assignment imagining a world at peace.

Tolerance in Times of Trial Designed for middle-high school students, this lesson plan uses the treatment of citizens of Japanese and German ancestry during World War II--looking specifically at media portrayals of these groups and internment camps--as historical examples of ethnic conflict during times of trial, and about the problems inherent in assigning blame to populations or nations of people. Students will look at contemporary examples of ethnic conflict, discrimination, and stereotyping at home and abroad.

Emergency Preparedness Designed for middle school students, this lesson plan introduces students to governmental and humanitarian response mechanisms for natural and man-made disasters. Students research and report on a variety of organizations, including the Red Cross, FEMA, and more; as an extension, students learn about locally- and regionally-based resources like the National Guard.

Taming Terrorism This lesson plan for high school students poses the question, "Who can stop international terrorism?" Students learn about different international agencies working to eliminate terrorism, study the recommendations of various international summits and conferences, and debate the effectiveness of various proposed measures.

The following lesson plans can be found on the NY Times website (use link to right).

LESSON PLANS Interdisciplinary lessons developed in partnership with The Bank Street College of Education in New York City. For grades 6-12.

Another Day That Will Live in Infamy (Sept. 12, 2001) Helping Students Explore Their Feelings and the Facts about the Terrorist Attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001

Reaching Out (Sept. 13, 2001) Exploring Ways That You Can Help in the Wake of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the United States

Speak Out! (Sept. 14, 2001) Examining the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the United States Through Editorial Writing

The Power of Words (Sept. 17, 2001) Exploring Responses to the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001

Drawing on Terror (Sept. 18, 2001) Exploring How Editorial Cartoons Express Opinions About the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks on the United States

Heeding Advice (Sept. 19, 2001) Learning About Foreign Perspectives on Impending Warfare

Can We Talk? (Sept. 20, 2001) Exploring the History of Telecommunications Technology

The Write Response (Sept. 21, 2001) Using Writing as a Way to Deal With Terrorism and Tragedy

NEWS SNAPSHOTS Explore a photo from The New York Times with the basic set of questions answered by journalists when relaying the news - who, what, where, when, why and how. For grades 3-5. Day of Terror Expressions of Grief Liberty and Justice for All Red White and Blue The National Pastime Heroes Big and Small A Call to Arms